Aeronca Model 7 Champion / L-16

In 1947 a Champ tried to land dead stick on our back pasture in Wilton, CT. He made it over the trees touched down and made an almost perfect landing until his wheels hit a furrow and he nosed over and bent the prop. They had to take it apart to take it out.

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Got my private license on the champ on floats in Northern Ontario in the mid sixties. We had one champ at the club with electric start and if we had full fuel and two people it would not get off the water. Had many fun hours and a few scary incidents to say the least. Would love to relive some of the times.

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I solod in Tampa, while the airport was still called Drew Field by some. Second Army AF field in Tampa. Solod at 17, 1950. Loved it Had to dodge a few B 47s coming oiut of MacDill. Tower asked me to pull up and go around as I was about to land. They were bringing in a Constellation across my path. No two way radio. Replied by wagging tail or flaps. Joined AF and never flew again.

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Five Freshmen in college and I, a senior in high school, purchased our Champ in 1957 for $200 each. We all learned to fly in a Mom & Pop dirt airport in Lake Charles, La. We could not afford insurance, so each wing bender /broken prop mistake would necessitate adding another part owner to cover the cost. And all work was done self-help. I don't know where the Champ is now, or status of the partnership, but, I wish all well.

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I soloed in Champ N84620 in 1962 when it belonged to the Rensselaer Flying Club in Troy, New York. About 30 students were taught by Fred Sandberg, a retired Navy pilot, at the Troy airport on top of a hill outside town. No car was allowed freshman year in those days, so I walked to the field on weekends for an hour of flying for $4.00 solo or $7.00 if Sandy rode along. He always gave us a ride back to school at the end of the day. Today, after years of owning different airplanes, I have a 7AC Champ of my own. I found N82154, freshly restored by two mechanics at Hill AFB, at the Brigham City Airport in Utah. They asked me to fly it around the airport a little for old times sake. When I landed they thanked me for giving it a test flight for them. I was a little surprised, but it flew so well I bought it on the spot! The Champ now shares the hangar with our company Aerostar and CJ, both fine flying machines, but not half as much fun to fly on a nice day!

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My first solo flight was in an Aeronca 7AC, N2607E, at Auburn University in Nov.,1957. 49 years and 8 months later I found it via FAA N-number data base at a grass strip in Ocala, Florida. Called the owner and arranged to see the old bird again. Drove from Marietta, GA to Ocala and not only got to see the Champ but got to fly it around the pattern. What a thrill. Of course it had a lot of instrumentation that wasn't in it when I soloed in it. Best I recall all I had to work with was an airspeed indicator, altimeter, RPM, magnetic compass and turn and bank.

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First ride Champ NC85433, 4 /14 /46. Flying lessons 1954 with Red Beach. Best airplane ever built. Loved skiis, spot landing contests, sideslip in crosswind, forward slip into tight fields. Sold my Champ in 1958, big mistake.

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Several mentioned doing a sideslip in the Champ. Soon after my first solo on the way to a private ticket in 1957 I discovered the ease of sliding into the traffic pattern at the old AF Base /Tallahassee Airport. My instructor caught me, and I still cringe, remembering his speech after
I landed. Otherwise, the plane was a real joy. My extremely macho father was my first passenger, and for the first time in my life I caught him horror-stricken in a 720 turn. I'll never forget the joy of my "GOTCHA!"

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My first "learn to fly" airplane when I started my flying career in 1950. Great memories!

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Solo flight in a Champ in Troy, Ala. in 1958. What thrill at 16 years old.

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As a flight instructor, about 45 years ago, I had the privelege of converting several new, tri-gear pilots to tail wheel dragger pilots at a small grass strip near the Wabash river about 180 degrees off the Danville VOR. The Champ had an 85 horse engine and was loved by all who mastered her. Flying my 225 horse Stearman, which is now owned by a retired Navy captain in northern Florida, was even more enjoyable in giving tail-wheel dual.

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Was a part owner of one back in college. It actually cost us $400 and we flew it for several years. Recovered most of it and put in a spare fuel tank (5 gal.) Sold it for $800 and thought that we were fabulous financiers. Would like to get one again. M.

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I co-own the WWII military "precusor" of this plane, an L-3 built in 1943. I learned to fly back when I was in college, then had to give it up for many years (teacher's salary and family sometimes don't mix with flying!) Four years ago, still stranded on the ground after more than thirty years I wandered into an airport saw "HER" a fully restored L-3B and brought it without even flying it once. The dream had come back alive for me. I did my second "solo" in her after twenty hours (learning a tail dragger after first learning in a Cherokee threw me a bit at first) But after that? Wow this is real flying! Being an historian, with every flight I feel as if I am touching history up there, that somehow more than a few of the Greatest Generation, now with permanently mounted wings are looking down and grinning. On the day I soloed a wonderful "old timer" at our airport came up to me with a grin and tears in his eyes, "Bill I first soloed in that exact same plane back in 1942 and you brought back a lot of memories today!" It was a proud moment. I am amazed when I take "her" to an airshow or just land at another airport how so many come up to me, eager to see the plane then share their stories about how they did their first solo in an L-3 or "Champ," and out of all the planes they have flown since, flying in an Aeronca, pulled along by that little 65hp engine was the most fun they ever had in the air. I'm a big guy at 6'4" and 230 lbs, but once I slip into the seat, the plane fits like a glove. We're based out of 9A9 Shiflet, Marion NC, a wonderful 3,000 grass strip and some of the most beautiful flying country in the east waiting just beyond the runway. If ever you are passing through get in touch.

Bud Adams, thank you for finding "her" and restoring her to mint original condition. You have those "permanent wings" now but I feel at times as if you are in the back seat grinning.

Bill Forstchen
9A9

"Because I fly I envy no man on earth."

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I started my flight training in 1962 at Phoenix Sky Harbor when the only terminal was on the north side of the only runway. Great thrill to solo in this airplane.

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Soloed in a 7Ac At Asbury Air Terminal, Asbury Park, N.J. in 1958. My instructor said" Okay, do the same thing as last time only this do it yourself" I thought he was crazy. One of the greatest thrills of my life.

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Flew this aircraft with a negative ground speed over a mountain in western NJ one winter with USAF winter suit.
The rudder flew off after a storm went through Teterboro.

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does anyone have a 3 view drawing for this cute airplane ? I want to build it for indoor aeromodelling. thank you verymuch.

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In the 70's Chapter 400 EAA had a 7DC Champ that had an 85 horse engine conversion that increased the perfomance. IT was flown for a time out of Sell Airfield for a time and Blue Knob airfield till it was damaged in a cross wind landing. It was bought by one of the club and compleatly restored. Theowner died of natural causes and the aircraft was sold out of the area. It was a great flying aircraft.

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